Pasadena Foster Care Charity Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

Feb. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- (PASADENA, CA)— Pasadena foster care charity, Hillsides, announces the appointment of its new chief executive officer, Joseph Costa, who comes to Los Angeles from another multi-service children’s charity in Northern California.
“We selected our final candidates from over a hundred applications from across the country.  We feel with absolute certainty that Joe Costa is the right individual to serve the needs of Hillsides as he begins his tenure in February,” said Debbe Booth, Board of Director’s chair of the children’s charity. She added that the Board worked for over two years to identify a successor to John Hitchcock, who is retiring after nearly forty years of service to Hillsides.  
   Costa’s leadership includes identifying a multiple year transition plan that increased community-based programs for his previous charity, addressing the weakening demands for residential services, as well as positioning the charity for further development, increased service capacity and strengthened its financial viability.
“Hillsides has a long tradition at the forefront of services for vulnerable children, youth and families.  As a leader in this field, I’m excited about the opportunity to be supportive of strengthening Hillsides’ mission in creating safe places and continuing to advocate for the needs of these children and their families,” said Costa, who also welcomes his return to Los Angeles.
Previous leadership roles include his appointment as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Para Los Niños in Los Angeles, director of planning and director for community services at Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, as well as executive director and administrator of St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Knowledgeable of an array of services relevant to the children’s charity, Costa plans to continue an active role in advocating at the county, state and national level for the development of additional funding for Kinship Care, mental health services, supportive housing for transitional aged youth and medical insurance for vulnerable children and youth.
Acknowledged as a leader in the child welfare community, Costa has been selected by his peers to serve on the governing body of Child Welfare League of America and was previously on the governing body of California Alliance for Child and Family Services. He is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
To learn more about the foster care children’s charity, visit www.Hillsides.org.

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Pasadena charity founded in 1913, Hillsides creates safe places for children in foster care living in its residential and community treatment centers preventing the cycle of abuse for children at risk and their families. Visit www.hillsides.org